Former Vice President Walter Mondale suggested in an interview today President Obama stop relying on “idiot boards” — teleprompters, that is — to deliver his message to the American people.
“He uses these idiot boards to read speeches in television, and I think he loses the connection that he needs emotionally with American voters,” Mondale said in an interview set to air this evening on CNN’s The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer, according to a transcript from the network.
“Idiot board” is a term used in television and movie production to refer to boards held up for performers to read off.
“If you’re looking at the teleprompter, you’re here, you’re here, you’re here and you’re — your audience is right there,” Mondale said. “And I think he needs to do more of that.”
Some days you just want to scream. I’m not going to go into the notion that Mondale, one of the few men I know for a fact who has lost a statewide election in EVERY STATE IN THE NATION, should not be the one giving advice. But this notion about the teleprompters is just more right-wing bullshit. Obama uses teleprompters for specific occasions when the wording he needs to use has to be very precise. For example, when announcing legislation and what it will do. Or speaking to AIPAC. Etc.
The rest of the time, he goes without a teleprompter and gives pretty damned spectacular speeches- but the wordage and verbiage at the event don’t need to be precise, so he can elaborate and “explore the space,” if you will.
This is not hard to figure out. Anyone who has watched the man for the past two years can figure this out. This is just more regurgitation of right wing bullshit. By a Democrat.
Bobby Thomson
Next stop, Fox News.
ETA: It would be irresponsible not to speculate when he also gave this gem only weeks ago:
http://www.newyorker.com/talk/2010/09/27/100927ta_talk_mayer
SlyFox
Remember, this is the guy that chose Geraldine Ferraro for his Vice Presidential nominee. Remember her attitude toward then-Sen. Obama during 2008? Like Hamsher, old wounds heal slow.
StonyPillow
At 82, you should be old enough to know you might not have anything more to contribute to the conversation and keep your yap shut.
debit
On behalf of my state I apologize for Mondale.
mistermix
And Walt was such a riveting public speaker himself, so he knows that of which he speaks.
Benjamin Cisco
Sounds like he could have used an idiot board for that interview.
bkny
jesushchrist … way to go and give life to one smear that had seemed to disappear.
hatmandu
What’s next? Dukakis advising Obama to throw on a tank helmet and climb aboard a M1 Abrams for a photo shoot?
Maybe we should ask Nader. He’ll know what to do.
Personally, I think teleprompters are the first step towards sharia law.
homerhk
Is it me or is President Obama subject to the most stupid attacking comments ever visited on a President? teleprompters? hugs? bowing? It’s almost as if a certain section of the country is like one half of a constantly arguing married couple where every little thing the other one does just makes them mad. I am baffled as to the cause of this because – whatever you may think of his policies – he seems like a good man to me.
O/T but I thought this was interesting:
http://www.politico.com/politico44/
given the recent hysterical noise that was made out of this:
http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/09/10/white-house-spurns-solar-panel/
Anyone here think that Obama isn’t given enough (or indeed any) credit?
SlyFox
I keep wondering, is there a jealously issue here. Clinton is cool with him. Even Carter is cool with him. The only ones who seem to have defacing criticism of him seem to be the guys who lost in landslides the first damn time. Don’t get me wrong, these guys had a wealth of knowledge like Barack Obama has, but didn’t know how to throw it out there like he does. They couldn’t ever read the newfangled teleprompters and were criticized as effete and self centered liberal elites who didn’t care about people, like they are insinuating he should do. Maybe its regret.
Nick
Clearly, if Obama used to the bully pulpit…
EconWatcher
I’ll say it again: Walter Mondale has special skills you just don’t appreciate. I was living in Minnesota when he lost the race for Paul Wellstone’s Senate seat to Norm Coleman. It was a feat few politicians could pull off.
Here was Mondale, former VP of the United States and Ambassador to Japan, revered elder statesman and favorite son of Minnesota. There was Coleman, a turncoat former Democrat; a guy with a fake marriage who flew in his estranged wife from California for appearances but was well known for trawling the St. Paul Grille for young booty; a man so fake you wondered if he was actually a hologram. And an election held in the wake of the tragic death of an idealistic and eccentric liberal, respected and liked even by his political adversaries.
All Mondale had to do was not act like a complete jerk. Mouth a couple of platitudes about continuing Paul Wellstone’s unfinished work. But he picked the biggest twerp in Minnesota, David Lillehaug, to prep him for the debate with Coleman, and apparently Lillehaug thought the best strategy was for Mondale to go on the attack and come across as an angry, snarling, but confused and ill-informed old man.
Really, that race took enormous talent to lose. You have to respect the accomplishment. So I’m sure Obama just can’t wait for this guy’s advice.
georgia pig
Oh, please do.
Like Fritz was such an electrifying speaker. A lot of the “helpful” commentary on Obama has this Salieri flavor.
And, unlike many users of idiot boards, he actually writes and/or edits the stuff on the boards.
The only thing I’ve seen that might diminish the emotional effect of Obama’s Oval Office speeches is that there is no live audience. He is superb — using a teleprompter or not — in front of a live audience, because he feeds off their energy and is able to engage them in the call-and-response style he favors.
Slide
This from a guy that thought it would be just a great idea to proudly tell the country in a debate that he was going to raise taxes. He promptly lost every state in the nation except his own and Washington DC. Yes, lets gets some more political advice from this genius.
wilfred
AIPAC? I’ll bite: why does he need to be so precise?
SlyFox
@Slide: You know, the night of that convention, my Grandfather told my Grandmother these exact words, “GODDAMNIT!!!! Were gonna have that brylcreemed senile fuck in there for four more Goddamn years now!!!”
Pancake
Come on Mr. Cole. Obama has used teleprompters when addressing school children for God’s sake. He is believed to have even had one installed above the bed in the master White House suite. Extemporaneous speech, whether about the awful Jews or about sweet-nothings to his wife, are well above his skill kit.
WyldPirate
I don’t get the bullshit the wingnutters and other wankjobs complain about with respect to fucking teleprompters. Seriously, what the fuck difference is there between reading a speech off of a teleprompter versus reading one off of a godddamned sheet of paper or notecards on a fucking podium where you are constantly looking down?
The answer? One is superior–the use of the teleprompter–because if you’re good, and Obama is the best public speaker I think Ive ever seen hands down, you can look like you are speaking extemporaneously and connecting with your audience.
Odie Hugh Manatee
Maybe Fritz can get back together with Tits so they can both insult Obama.
What a sad sack with no sack.
wilfred
Walter Mondale is a decent man.
Trashing him because, GASP!, he said something about Obama is a bit shrieky, no?
WyldPirate
fuck it..never mind.
Brian S (formerly Incertus)
@georgia pig:
This. Anyone else remember that photo of Obama writing notes on an early draft of a speech? It came out a year or so ago. I grabbed it and show it to my writing students when they start bitching about the requirement that they revise one paper per semester.
Woodrowfan
@Pancake:
BS, he used the teleprompter when giving a written speech when he spoke to the kids’ teachers afterwards, NOT when he spoke to the kids. Another day, another RW racist lie…
http://www.snopes.com/politics/obama/photos/6thgrade.asp
Odie Hugh Manatee
@Pancake:
He spoke to the kids without a teleprompter and gave a press conference afterward, using a teleprompter.
Is that too tough for your flat brain to process?
Fuckin’ weasel.
geg6
@Pancake:
Just like Walter Mondale, you wingnuts seem to have an inferiority complex in regard to Obama that oozes through every bit of slime you try to throw at him. He’s smoother than any of you whether in the bedroom with his wife who obviously adores him or using a teleprompter (and let’s discuss Chimpy’s fabulous speaking style while we’re at it, OK?).
Afraid it’s true what they say about once you go black, eh?
Chyron HR
@Pancake:
So you think it’s a bad thing that Obama can’t engage in extemporanous antisemetism? No wonder you worship Tea Partiers like Mark “Exterminate the Juden rats” Williams.
Anya
This is Walter Mondale trying to be relevant. For heaven’s sake, he lost to Norm Fucking Colman as @EconWatcher: tell us. The man should find a cave and hide for the rest of his life.
kay
@wilfred:
When’s the last time you heard him, wilfred? Is he on CNN often? Is this teleprompter issue one of his life-long causes? I’m surprised if it is, because he’s a famously dull speaker.
He’s a fool if he doesn’t realize the only reason they’re promoting him is because he’s a Democrat trashing Obama.
That’s the one and only reason he’s there. To fill that “Democrat” slot, so CNN can continue to promote this idea.
Jimmy Carter isn’t stupid enough to fall for it, unlike a lot of professional Democrats.
debbie
Boehner was shown with teleprompters when he gave his big speech at Cleveland a few weeks ago. No one’s bitching about that.
I’d rather Obama ensure he says exactly what he means to say. In this age of parsing every single nano-syllable or flicker of an eyebrow, when so much is at stake (and not just politically), it’d be nuts to try and wing it in a speech. Press conferences are a different issue, and of course, there are those who complain about his circuitous answers to complex answers. You can’t have it both ways, people, unless of course, all you really want is a reason to bitch.
Remember how Greenspan’s riddles used to rile up the market — even when the economy was (assumed to be) booming? What would something like that do in the current atmosphere?
myiq2xu
Obama uses a TelePrompter to talk to his daughters during breakfast. Without one he sounds like Boomhauer.
Next time think before you vote.
Scott P.
The MPAA are a bunch of pricks.
This comment has been rated R by the MPAA
kay
When Walter Mondale can get 26,000 people out and fired up to save Russ Feingold’s Senate seat, you let me know.
That’s reality, Walter. Punditry is easy.
wilfred
@kay:
I’ll save you the trouble. I’m not going to trash an old man because he fails some sort of loyalty test to the supreme leader.
You’re starting to sound like a cult.
Sly
What we clearly need right now is to have the President of the United States spend hours and hours each week memorizing speeches.
It’s not like he has anything important to do, right?
Pug
This whole teleprompter thing is stupid. They all use teleprompters and have for decades. This ranks right up there with the dijon mustard “issue”.
Walter Mondale is in there with George McGovern in the pantheon of Democratic losers. Er… I mean loosers.
Anya
@Pancake: This is Obama without any notes, let alone telepromter rallying the dems before the HCR vote. To quote Ezra’s tweet “Its like there’s a teleprompter IN HIS BRAIN.”
You and other old school assholes, cannot stomach that a black man is smarter and more accomplished than you, so you hang on to these tired smears about telepromter and other insanity like, “He’s detached,” “he’s aloof”. Fuck all of you. America is moving ahead without you.
aimai
@kay:
I agree. Also, I hate to say it, but this reeks of “old man-itis.” I had a touch of this last night in the ER when a to me very young, Doogie Howser type doctor came in to check on Mr. Aimai. I really thought he was so young that he must be in training and I took him through the medical history in what must have been the most astoundingly condescending way. Later, of course, it turned out he was just a regular doctor on the transition team, not a trainee med student at all. I suddenly flashed on the old guy who asked me, when I was reading a book on the bus, whether I was a “student” and I answered that I was teaching the book and he burst out laughing and said something like “before I didn’t know how to spell teacher but now I are one!” or something like that. I’ve taken a vow to grasp that people younger than me are, in fact, fully trained and competent to do their jobs.
I also think that Mondale thinks he’s using the “teleprompter” thing as a kind of shorthand for Obama’s well known “cool” instead of seeing it as a right wing “he’s stupid” smear.
aimai
arguingwithsignposts
@wilfred:
typed in fine firebagger style.
Anyone who uses “the supreme leader” in non-ironic, non-snarky ways deserves derision. Your statement that people are “trashing” Mondale because he failed a “loyalty test” is evidence of your own reading comprehension FAIL, not cult-like behavior on the part of commenters here.
kay
@wilfred:
It’s a silly critique. I don’t feel the need to stroke Walter Mondale’s ego this morning.
I love that you’re calling me a cultist while arguing that Walter Mondale is owed some sort of deference based on his former office and his age. I don’t owe him anything.
jwb
Our trolls are exceptionally stupid this morning.
kay
@aimai:
Good story. I feel that way with high school teachers. They look like they’re 15.
You’re more generous than me. I think there are a lot of long-time Democrats who think Obama “jumped the line” and didn’t “pay his dues” and they were sitting around waiting for the (inevitable) rough patch, so they could pontificate and wag their finger about how he’s ‘green’.
I run into this a lot with the state level big-shots (people who think they’re big shots) in the Democratic Party.
Democrats don’t talk about it, but it’s the elephant in the room. They don’t ‘know’ Obama.
It’s resentment, and a sense of entitlement. It pisses me off because it’s presented as “breaking ranks” when really it’s the opposite. It’s closing ranks. He’s not quite in the club.
arguingwithsignposts
@kay:
And probably for some, he should be serving their club sandwiches instead of running the meeting.
Bullsmith
Right, Obama’s problem is he doesn’t speak well. Not like the great orator who preceded him.
Juicebagger
Oooohhh! Something new and shiny! It’s so pretty! And distracting!
dmsilev
Is it troll mating season again *already*? Can’t we get a good spay and release program going or something?
dms
geg6
@arguingwithsignposts:
With Mondale, I doubt it. But with a lot of Dems around here in my neck of the woods? Very, very true. And based on some of the racial dogwhistles I’ve seen on the site, with the Firebaggers, too.
John S.
@wilfred:
You are Johnny on the spot when it comes to Middle East topics, so you should know better than to refer to Obama as the “supreme leader”. Not only is Obama NOTHING like the actual ayotollah (which you should know), but the comparison completely downplays how brutal and totalitarian the actual ayotollah is in terms of governance. It’s no better than comparing Bush to Hitler or Obama to Kim Jong Il (dear leader).
That you throw it around so casually only shows what an unserious dick you are. I’ll remember that the next time you pretend to share your Middle East ‘acumen’ with us.
Woodrow "asim" Jarvis Hill
@jwb: Even pulled myxy-poo out of whatever hole he dropped into. LOVELY.
@Cole:
Should be stapled on Mondale’s forehead.
@kay:
I’m so glad that, during the primary, I wasn’t one of the Obama team folks who had to liaison with the mainline party apparatus in my state. what I got from the couple of meeting I went to, was quite enough of that attitude. I also suspect it didn’t really get much better in the General, just much more quiet.
And you’re 100% correct, but I’d also add that, on this level, it’s about these bastards wanting one more run ’round the fame track, on the backs of our already-horrid civil discourse.
Tom W.
‘Idiot Board’ describes this comments section pretty well, and the quality of the response to JC’s post, frankly. Too much despicable ageist piling on an old and respected Democrat with a career in public service for my taste.
One thing I hear over and over again from (mostly liberal, politically involved) friends is that they think Obama uses the ‘Prompter too much. It feels sometimes like he’s chained to it. And JC’s right, he’s good without it. He’s wrong that it’s a rightwing smear – I hear it all the time. He should ditch ’em and speak to people more. Hell, his backyard talks are working!
Omnes Omnibus
@Tom W.: Do you have any evidence that Obama uses teleprompters more often than any other politician? The fact that your liberal, politically involved friends think Obama uses it too much is more a sign of the pervasiveness of the BS meme than a sign that the meme is true.
ETA: I am not catching a whole lot of ageism coming from the comments; rather, I am seeing people calling someone out for saying something stupid. More people are going with jealousy than age as well. The fact that Mondale was a good senator, a VP, a Presidential candidate, etc. does not insulate him from criticism.
Tom W.
@Omnes Omnibus:
I’ve commissioned no studies but it feels like it – as it does to many Obama supporters. And if it feels like it and becomes a meme to your base (widely defined) then in politics, it becomes “true.”
That, and he’s better without it except for major addresses to Congress. Sometimes, the stupid-ass prompter makes him stumble when he’s tired and reading, rather than speaking and thinking.
Most big-time pols use it too much, and the President’s the – well – president of that club.
Warren Terra
I thought MyIQ~0 had retired from commenting. And frankly, he’s rusty; in a thread crawling with trolls and even the occasional concern troll (Tom W), his comment wouldn’t even have registered if I gadget noticed the handle.
It really is sad, though, that George McGovern (rabidly anti-union, among other faults) and, with this stupid parroting of a fatuous Republican meme from that noted master of the art of connecting to the people, Walter Mondale, could be respected elder statesmen but prefer to be bitter and crotchety old farts instead.
Omnes Omnibus
@Tom W.: Most pols use it because they have a metric shit ton of things to do during their days other than memorizing speeches. Obama is no exception. This meme was put out there as a way to try to diminish perceptions of his intelligence and speaking ability. You know, the Rovian tactic of attacking an opponent’s strength. Don’t buy into it.
Tom W.
@Warren Terra – such fun those one-liners about ole Grandpa Simpson, but to what end?
You’re actually kind of ancient yourself, btw. “Concern troll” is VERY 2004, pallie….jump to present tense, you crotchety old bastard.
Suck It Up!
@wilfred:
I think you need to take a step back and wonder why is it that you can’t acknowledge that this is a plain and simple dumb ass criticism of the president. There have been stupid attacks on politicians I dislike intensely, but I’m honest enough and mature enough to say so.
Kryptik
Good fucking grief.
There are more fucking important things currently wrong with our goddamn country than Teleprompters and ‘weak hugs vs. MANLY HANDSHAKES!!’. Good fucking Christ, there’s enough to harp on Obama for, legit or unfounded, to not go into this shit for the 150th week. My fucking god, it’s like no one ever heard of a fucking teleprompter before Obama came around.
themann1086
@Tom W.: So, it feels true, ergo it must be true. Truthiness in action!
eemom
When we have people defending an ancient presidential wannabe loser for publicly spouting wingnut talking points about a sitting president in his own party, I do believe we have reached Peak Stoopid.
Muck Fondale. Yes he’s an elder statesman and a decent man. On this particular occasion, he also happens to be an asshole.
eemom
@Kryptik:
yeah, that too.
Ash Can
“Obama uses the teleprompter too much.” = “The teleprompter issue is a handy means of criticizing Obama, because I’m not allowed to express the real reason(s) I dislike him.”
geg6
@Ash Can:
This.
Blackety, blackety, black, black, black.
Fuck me, but I’m sick of this shit from liberals. I expect nothing but this from wingnuts, but liberals sure have their share of racist assholes, too, it seems.
Suck It Up!
@Tom W.:
Don’t know who you hang with, but everyone I know calls bullshit when they hear that so-called meme. And those folks are also a part of the base.
eemom
you know, this was such a shitty thing for Mondale to do and I am so disgusted with everything in general that I shall take this opportunity to note that, when St Ronnie popped out that “I will not let age be an an issue in this campaign. I will not take advantage of my opponent’s youth and inexperience” in that 1984 debate, it really was pretty fucking funny.
FlipYrWhig
@Tom W.:
So, in other words, you have no idea WTF you’re talking about, neither do your friends, but you all figure you might as well repeat some fool thing you heard on the news. Brilliant. This is what I hate about motherfucking politics.
Suck It Up!
@Ash Can:
like, no black person can be this eloquent and smart?
that’s what I hear when people bring up the teleprompter smear.
burnspbesq
Why does anyone care what Mondale says? Didn’t he pass his sell-by date around, oh, 1993?
valdivia
Hmm. I think I remember a Tom Watson who used to go around during the primaries telling Al Giordano how wrong he was about everything Obama and how Hilary would win the nomination. I may be misremembering but if I am not–I guess we know why this dude is here pimping the teleprompter bs.
Jim, Foolish Literalist
Is there any evidence that Obama uses a teleprompter more frequently than any president since Carter? I’d be more than a little surprised.
@FlipYrWhig:
“deficit” “Obama overreached” and now “teleprompter”, little seeds of Concern that trickle down from FoxNews to your local blow-dried news readers (of teleprompters!), none of which stand up to a follow up question. Not that follow up questions are ever asked.
Tom W.
@valdivia: Ah, the Soviet-style loyalty test of the long-ago primaries. Expected. Swat. Dispensed with.
Listen, I’m for the President. I like the dude. He uses the damn thing too much. It’s not concern-trolling, it’s actual concern. He’s president so – and this may be an education to folks new to politics – people give him advice in public. Yeah, Mondale could have chosen better words than idiot board, but the advice is actually sound. But when you use it for a 6th grade address and liberal Jon Stewart and your biggest public fan in the media (Mr. Matthews) get on you about it, man it’s time for some change.
wilfred
@Suck It Up!:
That’s not the point. Why fucking bother? He’s an old man who’s long past it. Why bring up something that nobody heard of in order to trash him? You yourselves say he’s irrelevant – will the Republicans resurrect him because of this?
It’s bullying, and distasteful.
But in the interest of comity: He’s a stupid, senile gasbag shit who should be chopped up into dog food and fed to the stubborn rearguard of the Liberals who lost the election to Reagan.
Something like that?
Jim, Foolish Literalist
@Tom W.:
So your evidence is one instance about six months ago?
Chat Noir
@Brian S (formerly Incertus): In David Plouffe’s book “The Audacity to Win,” he said that it was unusual that the best writer on the campaign team was the candidate himself.
arguingwithsignposts
@Jim, Foolish Literalist:
Not only is it not evidence, but it was debunked a few comments above this one.
How many people would even *know* he used a teleprompter if the damned RW wurlitzer hadn’t brought it up?
daveNYC
Nope. November 6, 1984.
I’m going to read some news articles about Carter. I swear he’s the only ex-prez (or vice-prez) that I don’t feel the urge to stab in the face.
arguingwithsignposts
@wilfred:
He was on Wolf Blitzkrieg, on CNN. Somebody got in touch with the guy, so, yes, I suspect there’s some ratf**king going on here.
Tom W.
@arguingwithsignposts:
You know because you can see the damned things when you’re looking at him. (Saw him a couple of weeks back).
And you know because there are too many times when you can see him actually reading – throws off his natural timing and talent.
valdivia
@Tom W.:
Ah I am soviet style ideological enforcer because I remember that someone with a similar handle went on and on about how Obama was a fake and on and on about the meme that Obama was not ‘real’ but a manufactured candidate who really didn’t have the chops to govern like Hilary would? The teleprompter bs is just a reiteration of the same shit just dressed in republican Rove speak.
So anyone who went with this is really *not* giving the president productive feedback just spouting a line. I don’t give a hit what Matthews and other pundits say. The fact that Politico went to Mondale to get a piece on “What is Wrong” with Obama says it all. And the fact that you come here to say that he uses them more than any president evah! without knowing what you’re talking about just proves the point.
Thanks for playing! Try harder next time with your trolling.
kay
@Tom W.:
Again. When Walter Mondale and the rest of the political professionals who pontificate on cable tv can turn out 26k in Wisconsin to save a liberal Senate seat, I’ll listen.
26,000 motivated voters can rescue Feingold. Obama drew them. That’s fact. It’s also hard work. The rest is idle chatter.
TheYankeeApologist
Maybe it’s just me here, but isn’t this how they constantly ratfuck us to death? By letting us ratfuck each other over nonsense while they circle the wagons and universally defend every Senator with a wide stance?
I think this is the strongest Conservative tactic – they know that most of us Liberals are actually intellectuals, and have some kind of deep-seated, reptilian-brain need to dissect, analyze, and bicker in the name of advancing ideas.
They don’t understand this at all, but it seems like they know how to use it against us.
Just an observation from the sidelines. Back to your regularly scheduled Teleprompter discussion. =)
daveNYC
Oh, and this is what freeking Carter said on CBS yesterday:
See them there second and third paragraphs Mondale?
Edit: %$#% blockquotes.
TheYankeeApologist
@kay:
Oh my god. THIS.
Suck It Up!
@wilfred:
give me a damn break. I should hold my tongue because of his age? when your ass is on tv saying dumb shit, you should expect to be called out.
bullying? man I cannot stand hyperbole. What bullying do you see here? Are we all standing around his broken body calling him irrelevant and “long passed it”? this victim mentality is getting old.
Tom W.
@valdivia: Your bunker mentality is showing – otherwise, the name-calling factor would be lower here.
Also, it’s a lie to say I ever Barack Obama was a fake. I admire the man and have since he came upon the scene, look it up. But I don’t shy from criticizing him either. Falling into the lame ‘Rove speak’ nyah-nyah chant is depressing.
Mr. Cole is a keen observer – but I think he’s wrong about both the source of the teleprompter meme (it’s not limited to the right-wing in any way) and about the actual advice Mondale gave.
Those of us who back the President AND think he should use the prompter only for major, long addresses believe that BECAUSE he’s an effective and natural speaker WITHOUT it. It’s actual concern, not “trolling” – to use a phrase you old folks cling to from a different era. We want to see this presidency rebound, big-time.
Does anyone remember the silly Sibelius intro for crissakes?
TheYankeeApologist
@Tom W.:
Precisely the point I was trying to make. When people catch a Republican politician doing something stupid, every Republican from here to Alaska makes damn sure to defend, absolve, and protect said asshole from any deserved retribution or ridicule.
Our side, however, is more apt to sack our own quarterback every chance we get for some kind of transient sense of intellectual superiority. It’s depresssing. I’m not name-calling in any way, but I think when we’re still looking at a failing economy, two quagmire wars in the Middle East, and a potential Republican takeover in Congress, I assure you that teleprompters are the last thing on my mind. We have bigger problems, mate.
Suck It Up!
@Tom W.:
Don’t forget Velma Hart! man when your own people turn on you that’s it!
*rolls eyes*
kay
@Tom W.:
Just pundits, and political commentators.
I remember how Sibelius has brought the health care law implementation in on time and under budget.
But who needs competency and hard work, when we can parrot right wing attacks and say silly things that generate Politico articles.
Kryptik
@daveNYC:
Honestly, it seems like the more years go by, the more it becomes apparent that Carter’s only problem as president was not being enough of a politician, and too much of an actual reasonable human being.
valdivia
@Tom W.:
I use salty language because the insanity of you coming to this thread to make a so-called principled point about how Obama should be held to a standard that no other president ever has about his speaking engagements drives me absolutely fucking nuts.
Your colors are showing by the way by mentioning an event NO ONE remembers but you. The Sibelius intro? What? This is what you remember about Obama’s first two years as president? Really?
Just.Wow.
If this is what we get from ‘supporters’ then we’re really, really fucked.
@Kay. Everything you said. A thousand times.
Jim, Foolish Literalist
(@Tom W.:
Again: Show me some evidence, that doesn’t involve a comedian or a hyperventilating buffoon (Tweety also like to guffaw that John Kerry looked French; does that mean it was a substantive point?)
No. Don’t even remember it being discussed on blogs.
I don’t think it’s agist or bullying to point out that Walter Mondale, like a lot of people who once got a lot of attention, misses that attention. Look at any actor or singer who says their cameo in a Judd Apatow movie or Dancing with The Stars isn’t a comeback, dammit!, or the athlete, who might be all of 40, brought back on TV when his record is about to be smashed, who goes on TV to explain that he had tougher opponents and rules that made it harder for him to do than That Kid.
Tsulagi
Way to go Team D!
Seemed even the Teas had dropped the teleprompter BS after Obama spanked the House R leadership at their own retreat during a teleprompterless question time. And after the heart and mind of the R-Teas, to avoid a teleprompter charge, smartly wrote shit down on her hands.
You can criticize Obama for a lot of things, but the guy can talk with or without a teleprompter. It’s his strongest asset.
Tom W.
@valdivia:
It’s not a “standard” – there’s no value judgment or ethical case to be made. It’s just practical advice. He’s better without the damned things. Much better. Brilliant a lot of the time. Humorous as well, and that humor should shine through more. (Who can forget the hilarious “Annie Oakley” line he got off on Clinton during the debates).
His Presidency would be more successful. He was great in the debates with all the Dems and with Hillary too. I think somewhere along the line he felt burned by sometimes straying from the script and got hooked on the machines. The right wing uses the prompter meme to suggest he’s not capable. I find that ridiculous and patently offensive. Oh, and easily dispensed with at little cost.
I’m not parroting anything, and didn’t start this discussion. Just thought I’d jump in. (I’m hardly new to this little BJ community, just been quiet for a while for personal reasons).
TheYankeeApologist
@Tom W.:
This doesn’t seem like hyperbole to you?
For what he’s accomplished in the face of unanimous partisanship, up to and including pushing SOME kind of healthcare reform through (it’s not what we all wanted, but it’s a start), I think it’s a little bizarre to say that his Presidency would be more successful if he didn’t use a TelePrompter.
Ash Can
The gentleman doth protest too much, methinks.
Jim, Foolish Literalist
I did a search on ‘teleprompter’ at Media Matters, and this nonsense seems to have peaked last February. Even Katherine Lopes noted the irony of Republicans reading teleprompter jokes from their teleprompters. But Mondale knows repeating this will get a camera pointed at him, and someone reading a teleprompter will call him “Mr Vice President” again
valdivia
OMG stop the presses Obama would be better at Presidentin’ if he didn’t use them teleprompters! Thanks Tom W for that bit of wisdom.
As much as I would love to get into the weeds about this idiotic meme even more I have to run off so someone else will have to pick up the slack of countering this bs….
MattR
Anyone want to bet that if Obama was not using a teleprompter there would be criticism about how he was too much of an elitist, intellectual for not using one?
Tom W.
@TheYankeeApologist:
Maybe, but that’s the topic here. I didn’t pick it out of thin air. Obama should rank with Kennedy, LBJ and Clinton as major figures – all of whom did the give-and-take spontaneous speaking thing very well, with different styles. If Obama loosened up a bit (and as I said, he’s every bit as witty and masterful of the policy as those guys) it would help him in all sorts of ways, particularly with the media. I’m not saying his presidency depends on it – but it’s an easy step to take with nice dividends, and it plays to his strengths. For a pol, it’s the equivalent of making the free throws when they send you to the line – man, the podium is HIS freaking home court, he should do a better job of owning it. Maybe the ongoing change-over in inner circle advisers will help….
Sentient Puddle
Whenever the bullshit about Teleprompters comes up again, I think it’s always useful to point out someone who doesn’t use them: Sarah Palin.
debbie
@ Tom W:
Good grief. There are much bigger issues now. Should he have winged it when he announced financial reform? He’s not saying what he would do, he’s saying what he will do. Do you not get that difference?
If you like the guy like you’ve claimed you do, you’d not be acting like a Fox puppet.
TheYankeeApologist
@Tom W.:
Kennedy and LBJ were Presidents before TelePrompter technology, and I would be surprised if you couldn’t go back and find footage of Clinton using one now and again, as well. I never thought to look because I don’t care if he uses one or not.
Again, I think we’re endlessly distracted by this Mobius Strip of a conversation, meanwhile, the other side is gathering for a full-court press to win elections.
Midnight Marauder
@Tom W.:
This is really all that needs to be said to your inane line of argument today.
Regardless of whether President Obama has been using a teleprompter or not, since he went back into campaign mode around Labor Day, his speeches and his performances at rallies have been absolutely top-notch and exemplary. I don’t see anyone ruminating on his “bungled” intro for Sebelius and I don’t see anyone pining for Annie Oakley comments like back in the good ol’ primary days.
Instead, I see people getting fired up watching him deliver passionate remarks at Gen44. I see people coming out in droves to wait in the rain to hear the president talk about how high the stakes are for this election. I do not see consternation because an eloquent speaker opted to use a device that has been commonplace in American politics for decades, particularly a device that he excels in using to his advantage.
It might behoove you to focus on the now, as opposed to some fictitious past you keep pining for.
Tom W.
@TheYankeeApologist:
Not so:
U.S. President Lyndon Johnson uses a teleprompter while announcing the Civil Rights Act of 1964
Teleprompter Tape for Democratic Nomination Acceptance Speech, 1960
Of course, Clinton used them for major speeches as well – indeed, it’s quite famous how he muddled through two major malfunctions.
This is a minor side conversation on a short blog post – no one’s suggesting it takes the place of trying to win the mid-terms. “Fox puppet” is ignorant, derisive and entirely uncalled for.
@Debbie, you Fox puppet, you!
Uncle Clarence Thomas
I don’t understand why the little people resent the technical means that President Obama chooses to lecture them on the virtues of endless war, rendition, torture, state secrets, indefinite detention, and warrantless surveillance of all their private communications and actions.
FlipYrWhig
@Tom W.:
No. No one does. This whole thing is absolutely 100% fucking idiotic. It’s like complaining that he takes off his jacket too much at rallies or something. Absurd, undiluted, jacked-up nonsense.
ETA: Personally, I’m still concerned that Obama is too much of a celebrity, as well as his associations with Jeremiah Wright.
Death Panel Truck
Walter Mondale. Jimmy Carter’s biggest mistake!
Bruce (formerly Steve S.)
I agree it’s a non-issue but, dude, Mondale’s in his 80s. Relax, he’s doddering and will go away pretty soon.
Angry Black Lady
@Suck It Up!: exactly. mr. preznint can’t read.
asshats.
henqiguai
Late and on the fly. Again. Does no-one recall Ron the Raygun’s extensive use of 3×5 cards ? Lo-tech teleprompter for the common man; and junior high school set. Where’s the dismissive disdain for the so-called ‘Great Communicator’ ? Poseur.
Cacti
I think Obama should continue what he has heretofore done…
Ignore the advice of a man who last won an election on his own merits in 1970.
Kerry Reid
@myiq2xu:
Are those daughters almost old enough for you to fantasize about throat-raping them yet, you sick fuck?
Keith G
John, I don’t disagree with Fritz. I heard Obama give the Gen44 speech last week. Parts of it sounded like the fucking State of the Union. Long sentences highlighting lists of accomplishments Now, the accomplishments were important, but he sounded like he was reading the warning label on a mattress.
For fuck sake, fellow Obots, he made the Ledbetter Law sound like fiber content. When he did riff, it was the same predictable riffs. I cried the night he got elected and nearly watched TV til dawn. The Gen44 speech bored me to tears. I could tell the kids there, while very supportive, were not as super hyped as I wish. He did not “top off” their enthusiasm.
I think that’s what Mondale was getting at. Don’t whack him for noting it. Some of us are just spoiled by the way the Big Dawg could impress *and* connect with a crowd.
Obama does impress.
Keith G
@kay:
Not exactly iron clad reasoning from a front pager. I am glad as hell that the Badgers turned out, but that’s not quite a high thresh-hold.
Norwegian Shooter
@EconWatcher:
You might have been in MN, but that doesn’t mean you know anything about it. Rumors about Coleman and a debate, seriously? That’s your case? It is impossible to talk about that election and not mention Rick Hahn. If you have to Google him, you disqualify yourself from being taken seriously. Also, Coleman is a complete douche, but 9/10ths of his douchieness was committed after he won that election. He was actually a good mayor of Saint Paul.
Norwegian Shooter
@kay:
He’s 82 f-cking years old! No students at Madison know who he is. And if you think all 26,000 kids are now chomping at the bit to vote for Feingold, I got a bridge to sell you.
Norwegian Shooter
@eemom:
F-ck him and he’s an a-hole? For a piddly little criticism that should be ignored? My God, doesn’t anyone have a relevance meter anymore?
Norwegian Shooter
First, JC needs to take a chill pill if Mondale’s comments gets his blood boiling. It’s only a big deal after you call it regurgitating RW bullsh-t.
Second, speaking of regurgitating, are the comments always this tribal and sophomoric?
Third, Fritz was and still is a great Democrat. And he wasn’t a slouch when giving a speech.
Norwegian Shooter
Obama’s really a great communicator – not!
Also, a troll is someone who tries to derail a thread any number of different ways. What Tom W. is doing is called debate. Not familiar with this concept, eh?